Art of making justified matrices.



' No. 700,300. Patented May 20, I902.v

A w QATHCABT ART OF MAKING JUSTIFIED MATRICES.

(Application filed Sept 24. 190

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR W. OATHCART, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO LANSTON MONOTYPE MACHINE COMPANY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

ART OF MAKING JUSTIFIED MATRICES.

SPECIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 700,300, dated May 20, 1902.

Applicationfiled September 24, 190l- Serial No. 76,361. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR W. CATHOART,

*of Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Art of Mak- 'ing Justified Matrices; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had *to the accompanying drawings, forming a part re of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon. r

The production of justifiedtype-matrices "bearing clear-cut impressions orchara'cters with smooth surfaces and of uniform or stand- *r:'5 ard depth and dimensions, saidimpressions or characters being properly located so as-to register accurately as toposition with the mold for forming the body portion of the type, has heretofore proved a very expensive z'o process, the degree of accuracy required being attainable only by highly skilled labor and at an expenditure of much time. This is especially true as applied to the production of the individual members of a series of matrices designed to cooperate witha single adjustable body-mold, as in the type-casting machines of the Lanston monotype system, illustrated in Patents Nos. 625,998 7 and 633,088, Where the set of each character, as

.50 well as its height and position, is dependemt' upon the accurate positioning of the char-- acter impression with respectboth to the end and sides of the matrix-blank,

v The accurate positioning or 3' ustification of,

.35 the character impression, is rendered more difficult and costly by practical considerations of weight, strength, and durability per- *t-aining to the commercial product-'. e.,

weight in relation to momentum, strength, to

pressure, and durability, to wear both of body and impression. The present invention has for its principal object to materially reduce the cost of production and at the same time simplify the .5 process and improve the product both as to material and uniformity, the latter a very desirable feature in an interchangeable systern of the kind mentioned.

To this end the invention consists in a novel mode or method for converting crude material into a finished commercial product- I a. e., justified matrices suitable for immediate application and use in connection with type-casting and other similar machines, as hereinafter fully described, and pointed'out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is 1 a diagrammatic View of a means for separating a rod into blanks. Fig. 2.is a vertical sectional view of a die and plunger suitable for forming and condensing the blank bypressure. Fig. 3 is avertical sectional view of a die and character punch for forming-the matrix-cavity. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view showing means for co mpressing, burnishing, and driving the character while the blank is contained in a single die. Fig. 5 shows in perspective and longitudinal section the finished-matrix. a Like letters of reference in the several figures indicate the same parts;

The first operation is the production of a blank A, slightly longer than the finished ma- .trix and approximatingthe latter in crosssection, although slightly smaller. This may be accomplished by taking a rod B, of suit- ;able material, preferably copper, which has been drawn or rolled to gage, and dividing it into sections of proper length, as by means of a series of saws 0, equally spaced and opcrating-in parallel planes perpendicular to the axisof the rod. The burs,,if any, incident ;to thiscutting to length are removed, as by filing or tumbling. The blank A is next subjected to severe compression in a manner to condense and harden the metal,'flatten the face which is to receive the impression, form preliminarily the conical-centeringecavity in the opposite end, (when said cavity is desired,) and expand the body to the final dimensions and cross-section, after which the character-punch is driven perpendicular to the flattened face and to a determinate depth, the punch having previously been justified, by chart or direct measurement, to locate the 9 5 depression in proper relation to the sides of the blank. Two means or aids to the performance of these operations are shown in the drawings by way of illustration, the first in= volving the use of two dies D E, the one for we forming and compressing the blank and the other for sustaining the blank while the drive is being made, this latter involving a transfer of the blank from one to the other, while the second and preferred plan contemplates the use of a single die D, eliminates the transfer mentioned, and adds an important supplemental operationto wit, the planishing or burnishing of the face of the blank previous to the impressing of the character-whereby a smoother and more finished surface is produced in the matrix-cavity, the punch carrying said planished surface down to form the face of the mold, against which the printingsurface of the type is cast. This is an important feature, adding materially to the sharpness and finish of the impression.

Referring specifically to Figs. 2 and 3, D is a die-block, solid or sectional, provided with a perforation or die-cavity d, corresponding in form with that of the finished matrix, but slightly larger than the blank A and having parallel opposing walls. Within the lower end of this die-cavity d is fitted a plunger F, carrying a central conical punch f, projecting within the die-cavity, while a plunger G, fitted to the die-cavity, is arranged to enter the upperend of said die-cavity. Plunger F is fixed in position during the compression of the matrix-blank and forms the floor of the die-cavity, and it is reciprocated to eject the blank after compression, while plunger G is attached to power mechanism capable of a determinate degree of motion in the direction of plunger F. The blank A being inserted within die-cavity cl, the depression of plunger G will drive the metal down against plunger F, thereby causing lateral displacement sufficient to entirely fill the die-cavity, condense, and thereby harden the metal and flatten the end of the blank engaged by plunger G. Thus is the blank at one operation not only condensed and hardened and the centering cavity formed therein, but the sides are straightened and the matrix-face flattened and disposed in a plane perpendicular to the sides. This operation completed, the compressed blank is ejected, ready to receive the character impression. For this purpose it is transferred to a die E, similar to D, but provided with a character-punch H in place of plunger G. This punch H has previously been justified that is to say, properly adjusted with relation to the walls of die-cavity e-so that a single stroke will sink the character to the proper depth, measured from the face of plunger F, the latter constituting the ejector. The preferred arrangement, however, is shown in Fig. 4, wherein the functions of the two apparatuses are combined, so that a transfer of the blank is not required. The die and character plunger are substantially the same as before; but plunger G is dispensed'with and its place taken by a plate J, guided to move in ways transverse of the axis of the die-cavity and having its under face or that covering the die-cavity burnished and in close contact with the end of the die D, while the movements necessary to effect compression are communicated to plunger F.

When in operation, plate J is withdrawn to uncover the die-cavity,the blank A is inserted and plate J retnrned'to position. Plunger F is advanced, compressing the metal of the blank against the burnished face of plate J, driving the punch in and expanding the metal against the side walls of the die cavity. When at the inner extreme of its operative movement, plunger F is arrested, whereupon plate J is withdrawn, and by its contact with the end of the blank imparts a planished surface to the latter, the elastic tension of the metal resulting from compression serving to produce the necessary pressure for this purpose.

The withdrawal of plate J exposes th smooth and planished face of the blank, and the character-punch is thereupon advanced to form the drive.

If the centering-cavity in the base of the matrix is not desired, pnnchfmay be omitted.

The sinking of the character is liable to effect a slight elevation of the metal in the immediate vicinity of the matrix-cavity, which should be removed in order that the matrix may properly seat upon the mold. Conse quently it is preferable that the end of the matrix bearing the character should be faced or filed off flat with reference to the depth of drive, which operation is performed by the aid of a filing-gage and micrometer. Having thus established the relation between the bottom of the matrix-cavity and the end or face of the matrix, the latter furnishes a correct base-line from which to face the opposite end of the matrix, if desired.

Experience has shown that slight inaceu racies are liable to occur in the form orlocation of the centering-cavityin the base of the matrix as produced by punching and compression, due, perhaps, to slight distortion of the punch or unequal expansion of the metal when the punch is withdrawn, and in order to obviate this difiieulty and obtain a higher degree of accuracy the conical centering-hole as produced by the punch is slightly enlarged by subjecting the matrix to a boring operation for giving the final taper and dimensions to the centering-cavity, two adjacent side walls furnishing datum-lines for gaging the blank during this boring or turning operation.

If, as contemplated, the matrices are to be used in connection with the die-case of the patented type-casting machines referred to, it only remains to drill a transverse hole L, Fig. 5, for the reception of the retaining rod or wire.

13y forming the blank of a cross-sectional area somewhat less than that of the die-cavity d and before the drive is made subjecting it to longitudinal pressure between opposing surfaces whose maximum approach is fixed not only is whole body of the blank condensed and hardened and caused to conform accurately to the standard gage as determined by the die-cavity,'but the face which is to receive the impression is flattened and put into the most favorable condition to receive the drive, which latter, while effecting in a limited degree local compression, is inadequate to produce the requisite condensation and hardening of the blank. Moreover, by compressing the blank to gage before making the drive not only is it possible to prepare the surface and regulate the degree of hardening of the material of which the blank is composed, but to do so without liability of distorting the character impression, as would be the case were it attempted to effect the-desired compression at the time-the drive was madeas,for example, if the character-punch was carried by the compression-plunger G for in such case the material would necessarily be put under such a degree of elastic tension that upon the withdrawal of the character-punch expansion would follow sufficient in degree to distort the character impression and render it inaccurate. Hence it is desirable that condensation should precede the drive and that when the latter is performed the material should be in condition to retain the impression.

Itis impracticable by direct pressure to pro duce a planished surface on metal, particularly copper, but this result can readily be secured by the rubbing action of a polished surface under pressure.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1.' The hereinbefore described improvement inthe art of forming matrices for type and the like which consists in upsetting,'con densing and hardening the body and face of the blank by pressure, to form and gageits dimensions and flatten the impression-surface, and subsequently driving the characterpunch a determined distance into the flat tened surface While the'blank is supported on all surfaces except that in which the drive is made.

2. The hereinbefore described improvement in the art of forming justified matrices for type and the like which consists in subjecting the blank to pressure in an inclosing die-cavity containing apunch, to simultaneously form the centering-cavity, flatten'the matrix receiving surface, and expand the blank to gage, justifying the characterpunch with reference to the walls of the cavity in which said compression is effected, and finally driving said character-punch to a predetermined depth in the previously-flattened face of the blank while supported in the die. 3. The hereinbefore described improvement in the art of forming matrices which consists in condensing and hardening the matrix-blankand burnishing the matrix-receiving surface and subsequently driving the matrix impression in said burnished surface as and for the purpose set forth. y

4. The hereinbefore-described improvement in the art of forming matrices which consists in subjecting'the blank to pressure within an inclosed'die-cavity to form and harden it, burnishing the matrix-receiving surface While the material is under elastic tension within the die by a movement'of one of the die-surfaces, andsubsequently forming the drive in said burnished surface.

5; The hereinbefore-described v improve;

ment in the art of forming matricesfor type casting machines which consists in first forming ablank longer than the finished matrix and smaller in cross-section; subjecting said blank to longitudinal pressure between in-' closing walls to compress, harden and shape it; burnishing the surface of the blank; and driving the character punch into said burnished surface to form the matrix-cavity.

6. The hereinbefore-described improvement in the art of forming matrices which consists in compressing and burnishing the blank and driving thematrix-cavity while the blank is contained and supported in the compression-die: V

7. The hereinbefore described improved step in the art of forming matrices, which consists in burnishingthe matrix-surface by v a movement imparted to one of the walls or surfaces of the diecavityoin which the com pression of the blank is performed. v f

ARTI-IU W. CATHOART, Witnessesz" f MORTIMER A. JONES, ARNOLD 'SUTTERLIN, 

